Before closing the chapter on 2012, the Henry Neighbor is taking a look back at a memorable time in the local sporting world.

The champs are here!

Individual and team state championship hardware was hard to come by in 2012, but these elite few managed to pull it off:

'All CHARGED up'

The 2012 season began for Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy’s stellar senior class the same way last year’s campaign ended … with disappointment. The Chargers dropped their season opener to Washington County, albeit after giving up a commanding 19-0 first half lead.

ELCA’s Class of 2013 never lost again, reeling off 13 straight victories. The last came at the expense of Prince Avenue Christian by way of shutout in the GHSA state Class A-Private football championship game at the Georgia Dome.

Senior leaders like Keyante Green, Isaac Rochelle and DJ Curl can now rest easy as their legacy has been is now set in stone.

But, what of their successors?

Chargers coach Jonathan Gess vowed to get back to work the Monday following his team’s Friday night romp at the Dome.

“We will savor this [title] for the rest of our lives,” Gess said, post-game. “But for the Class of 2014, ’15 and ’16 we’ll be back to work on Monday … they’re excited about it.

“And, that’s not anything new… that’s just what we do.”

'Union Grove softball'

Before ELCA brought home the county’s first football title, the Union Grove Lady Wolverines made some history of their own on the diamond. Coach Rod Pipkins’ squad topped Pope in the Class 5-A title game to capture the school’s first team state championship in any sport.

What’s more, the Lady Wolverines clinched the title in as dramatic a fashion as one can imagine.

In the winner-take-all game, Union Grove erased a 0-2 deficit in the bottom of the fifth inning as Brittani Crawford, Jackie Tanner, Madison Moore and Katie Spinks all reached home plate.

With the Lady Wolverines up 4-3 in the top of the seventh, Spinks turned in the play of the year. She crashed into the wall to snag what would have been Pope slugger Ellyn Strother’s game-tying homerun, later holding the ball up while prostrate — cinematic-style — to confirm the out.

Union Grove ace hurler Megan Betsa struck out the next two batters to close the show.

Grapplers win the gold

A trio of wrestlers hailing from Henry took home individual state honors this year.

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